Delegation as a Leadership Style

Your leadership style is situational. Your leadership style depends on the task, the team or individual's capabilities and knowledge, the time and tools available, and the results desired. In a recent article, the tell, sell, consult, join, and delegate leadership style model was reviewed.

These tips for successful delegation of authority will help you help your reporting staff members succeed when they are most empowered. And, when they succeed, you succeed. Never let yourself forget the intertwined nature of workplace success.

Leadership Style Tips

Whenever Possible, When Delegating Work, Give the Person a Whole Task to Do

If you can't give the employee a whole task, make sure that they understand the overall purpose of the project or task that the task you assign them is part of. If possible, connect them to the group that is managing or planning the work. Staff members contribute most effectively when they are aware of the big picture.

Employees Are More Effective Performers When They Feel Part of Something That Is Bigger Than Themselves

By giving them the whole and complete picture, you ensure that they feel as if they are a part of the whole initiative. This makes them feel more important in the scheme of things.

People who know the goals, the expectations, and the outcomes expected make better decisions about their work because they have a context within which they are making decisions.

Make Sure the Staff Person Understands Exactly What You Want Them to Do

Ask questions, watch the work performed, or have the employee give you feedback to make sure that your instructions were understood.

If You Have a Picture of What a Successful Outcome or Output Will Look Like, Share Your Picture With the Staff Person

You want to make the person right. You don't want to fool the person to whom you delegate authority for a task, into believing that any outcome will do unless you feel that way. Your employees would rather that you share exactly what you are looking for rather than make them guess.

Identify the Key Points of the Project, or Dates When You Want Feedback About Progress

It is the critical path that provides you with the feedback you need without causing you to micromanage your direct report or team. You need assurance that the delegated task or project is on track.

You also need the opportunity to influence the project's direction and the team or individual's decisions. If you designate this critical path from the beginning, your employees are also less likely to feel micromanaged or as if you are watching over their shoulder each step of the way.

Identify the Measurements or the Outcome You Will Use to Determine That the Project Was Successfully Completed

Determine, in Advance, How You Will Thank and Reward the Staff Person for Their Successful Completion of the Task or Project You Delegated

The recognition reinforces the employee's positive self-image, sense of accomplishment, and belief that he or she is a key contributor.

Cautions in Using Delegation as a Leadership Style

Delegation can be viewed as dumping by the employee who receives more work to do. A young employee complained recently that while she was extremely interested in more responsible work and taking on new challenges, she felt that her manager was just giving her more work to do most of the time.

Consequently, some of the delegated work was more challenging; attending meetings during which she helped impact the direction of a developing product was challenging, exciting, and responsible.

She believed her manager didn't understand the difference though, so she spent most of her time doing more work of a mundane, repetitive nature. This workload, which had her working long hours and weekends, interfered with her ability to take on more responsibility and her family obligations.

Admittedly, any job has its share of the mundane tasks that have to be completed. Some people don't like filing, and some don't like billing clients. Some people also don't like doing the wash or emptying the dishwasher. Therefore, the manager must carefully balance the delegation of more work with the delegation of work requiring more responsibility, authority, and challenge.

The successful delegation of authority as a leadership style takes time and energy, but it's worth the time and energy to help employee involvement and employee empowerment succeed as a leadership style. It's worth the time and energy to help employees succeed, develop, and meet your expectations. You build the employee's self-confidence and people who feel successful usually are successful.